State Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, has decided not to run against Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, in the newly drawn 15th Congressional District this year. Here’s the statement she issued moments ago:

“I thank all my wonderful supporters for their encouragement to run for Congress, but before I do that, I want to finish the job I started in the state Legislature, where I’m fighting to support schools, protect consumers, create jobs and improve the lives of all Californians. I plan to continue my work as Senate Majority Leader and complete my term in the state Senate, and I look forward to continuing to serve my East Bay constituents in the future.”

Corbett had said months ago that she was committed to finishing her state Senate term and respected Stark, but later acknowledged she was exploring the possibility of a 2012 run.

Dublin Councilman Eric Swalwell, another Democrat, is challenging Stark this year, and completed his nomination filing earlier this week. We’re still waiting to see whether conservative independent Chris Pareja of Hayward completes his filing.

And Silicon Valley attorney and former Obama administration official Ro Khanna of Fremont hasn’t taken out any papers to run this year, despite having shattered fundraising records in 2011’s final quarter.

Lately we’ve seen embarassing behavior by local elected officials in Alameda County. A legislator was arrested for shoplifting, the kind of thing teenagers normally get picked up for. More recently a county supervisor checked into alcohol and drug rehab, after an embarassing incident at a hotel. The supervisor had appaently been engaging in an extramarital affair ,as reported by the SF Chronicle. Stuff like this makes you wonder about our local leadership. When you add Pete Stark to equation here – you could argue leadership in Alameda County is a little wacky. Stark, in Washington, is almost legendary for his wacky behavior.
Because of this unusual, questionable behavior by some of our local elected officals, I really think this straight shooting Alameda County Prosecutor Eric Swalwell “works” as our local representative. If you look at his resume you can see this guy is a hometown hero, a Dublin High Grad, he went to top notch colleges, came back home and got a job with DA’s office, he has spent the last several years working to keep our community safe. The guy is the kind of straight shooter we can be proud of as our local Congressman.

John W.

Wacky Pete will do until we get a better field of replacement candidates in 2014. For the sake of Alameda County residents, I hope Swalwell prosecutes better than he speechified in his joint appearance with Stark in Dublin. I don’t give a rat’s tail about the hometown hero stuff. Need some substance.

Cindy Corrello Hilke

Ro Khanna has said since day 1 that he would not run against Pete Stark, and he has done as he promised – not run against Congressman Stark – Stark and Khanna are both leaders of their word unlike others who has changed the way they spit in the wind every ten minutes. Remember this in years to come.

Elwood

@ #1 moderate voter

Lars54 is that you?

Charlie Peters

Audit the fed, support HR 459 Paul

Charlie Peters

Will GMO corn fuel ethanol affect the beef?

Does California use Brazil ethanol in our gas & diesel fuel at a $0.16 per Gal more price than corn fuel ethanol?

Senator Ellen Corbett has for years used her state staff for personal benefit on state time. Her staff never reports the incidents as they are afraid of being black listed for speaking out on such alleged abuses by the Majority Leader such as – driving her adult son to work and school, cleaning her house, washing her dishes, watering her plants and prized roses, feeding her cats and emptying the cat liter box, and packing and moving her Sacramento apartment last summer.

Capitol Insiders say her staff hasn’t filed complaints in the past; they just move on to a new legislative office, trying to salvage a career they thought was for the public good. Her capitol office has been a revolving door of employees, some only staying for a few weeks or months. However, rumors are now swirling that some of her staff and former staff are making their concerns known to the Senate Rules Committee.

With that in mind, Ro Khanna may be the best person to replace Pete Stark, given he survives re-election.